Struggling to stay on task at work? Gargle some Gatorade. Swishing a sugary beverage in your mouth can help boost your self-control, says a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science.
Researchers asked 51 students to complete two self-control tasks. In each test, half of the students rinsed their mouths with lemonade and sugar, while the other half rinsed with lemonade and Splenda.
The results: Those who rinsed their mouths with the sugar-infused lemonade responded to the tests faster and showed more self-control than those who rinsed with the artificial sweetener.
Researchers previously thought you needed to actually drink glucose and get it into your system to see its willpower-boosting benefits, but the new study found simply swishing works, too. “Glucose stimulates the simple carbohydrate sensors on your tongue, which then signals the motivational centers of the brain,” says lead study author Matthew Sanders, a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia. These signals tell your body to pay attention and help you get back on track with your goals, Sanders explains.
The researchers aren’t sure how useful this technique is for longer, harder self-control tasks—like quitting smoking—but Sanders says it should help in the short-term. If you’re waning during a hard workout or logging a late-nighter at the office, a quick swish of Gatorade should help you refocus better than water, he says.
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